Blu Release – 4/5
Julia
Director – Sigi Rothemund (Summer Night Fever, The Old Fox)
Starring – Jean-Claude Bouillon (A Family Secret, The Hitchhiker), Sylvia Kristel (Dracula’s Widow, Emmanuelle), and Teri Tordai (Caligula, House of Pleasure)
Release Date – 1974
Rating – 3.5/5
My knowledge of 70s cinema is very limited but in recent years I’ve found myself becoming more and more open to them after falling in love with boutique labels like Vinegar Syndrome, Impulse Pictures, and Severin Films just to name a few. Since then I’ve found myself more open to 70s cinema especially exploitation films.
Sometime back Cult Epics announced the release of Sylvia Kristel 1970’s Collection on blu. The four films in the set are all films I had never seen before so I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send a copy my way. I decided to start with the 1974 sexploitation film Julia. Like always, I want to thank Cult Epics for allowing Horror Society and myself the opportunity to check this set out.
**Spoiler Alert** The film follows a young man who is boarding a train when he spots a beautiful young woman. He tries his luck with her but goes nowhere when she leaves him to have sex with someone else. Later, he is picked up by his father at the train station and his father also picks up the beautiful young woman. They go to his home and more sexual tension and adventures follow. **Spoiler Alert**
I’ve been a fan of sexploitation for a few years now but my knowledge of them is very limited. However, it is something that I want to continue to watch and enjoy and I have companies like Cult Epics, Vinegar Syndrome, and Impulse Pictures to help me along on this journey. Julia is not one I had heard about prior to CE’s announcement but it was one of two films in the set that caught my eye. I was looking forward to another sexploitation film starring Kristel and it did not disappoint.
The acting in this one is solid and among the top tier in regards to sexploitation films. The characters are fairly generic but the cast delivers some decent performances. Some of the cast, Kristel include, delivers great performances while the rest of the cast delivers a decent enough performance. The lack of character development does make it a bit disappointing but nothing that takes away from the overall film. The story for this one is pretty straight forward and simple. It’s fun for a first time watch with no over thinking or complicated plot devices. It’s sexy and entertaining but has no replay value.
Finally, no blood in this one. However, if you are in the market for some skin then this film will not disappoint. Overall, Julia is not going to be for everyone but if you like sexy exploitation films then I highly recommend it. Check it out.
Mysteries
Director – Paul de Lussanet (Dear Boys, Alle Dagen Feest)
Starring – Rutger Hauer (Hobo with a Shotgun, Blind Fury), Sylvia Kristel (Emmanuelle, Dracula’s Widow), and David Rappaport (Amazing Stories, The Bride)
Release Date – 1978
Rating – 3/5
Tagline – “The romance. The ecstasy. The passion”
When I originally saw the announcement for Cult Epics release of Sylvia Kristel 1970’s Collection I was seriously interested in 1978’s Mysteries starring Kristel and Rutger Hauer. I’ve reviewed several films starring Hauer over the years but this was one I was very interested in. The film was based on Knut Hamsun’s novel and was surprisingly well received when it was originally released. I don’t think I had seen a Hauer film from the 70s so as soon as I finished Julia I was ready to toss in this drama. Like always, I would like thank Cult Epics for sending this one over.
**Spoiler Alert** The film follows a wealthy visitor to a small coastal town where he makes a name for himself by being mysterious. He befriends a little man nicknamed Midget and before long becomes involved with two women but who is the man and why does he act so strangely? **Spoiler ALert**
Mysteries is not the type of movie many of us would expect me to review for Horror Society. However, it’s exactly the type of film that I wanted to review when I started this journey a decade ago. I wanted to review movies that were lost to time and Mysteries is just one of those films. I appreciate that Cult Epics took the chance with this one and included it in their set because it was a lot of fun.
The acting in this one is fantastic. Sadly, Kristel was not the star of the show with Hauer and Rappaport taking front and center. She is in the film quit a bit but this is a vehicle for Hauer and he makes good use of his screen time. It was strange seeing how young he was here and he still does a fantastic job. The supporting cast is great as well but it’s Hauer that pulls the viewer in.
The story for this one is well paced and put together but it does take a minute to get the ball rolling. Once it picks up you find yourself pulled in and wondering what will happen next. It’s not predictable but once you’ve seen it you know exactly what to look for during your second viewing which does take away from it’s replay value. Honestly, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and how it progressed. It wasn’t over complicated or too long. It fit the run time perfectly.
Finally, don’t expect a body count with this one. It’s a drama that looks like it was made for television with no blood or carnage. Overall, Mysteries will draw hate from many of you that read my reviews but for those of you looking for a drama will enjoy this one very much so. It’s a great film.
Pastorale 1943
Director – Wim Verstappen (Black Rider, Blue Movie)
Starring – Frederik de Groot (The Little Riders, Star Cops), Leen Jongewaard (My Blue Heaven, Looking for Eileen), and Coen Flink (The Bluffers, Flanagan)
Release Date – 1978
Rating – 3.5/5
Back when I received the press release for this release I wasn’t too keen on Pastorale 1943. The artwork was boring and the synopsis just didn’t sound that entertaining. Hell, the only reason I even requested this set for review was for Julia and Mysteries. However, when I finished both those films and tossed in Pastorale 1943 I was surprised by how great the film was. It is one of the better films in the set and another prime example of why a movie fan should never judge a book by it’s cover.
**Spoiler Alert** The film follows a small Dutch village that is occupied by German forces in 1943. We follow a group of unorganized resistance fighters who plan on assassinating one of their own because they are a Nazi sympathizer. **Spoiler Alert**
Pastorale 1943 is easily my favorite film in the set but it’s far from perfect. It suffers from timing issues and the movie is far too long for the type of story we are given. I really did enjoy it but at over two hours long I found myself truly struggling to finish it. It’s a great period piece about Nazi occupation that many history buffs can appreciate.
The acting in this one is fantastic. I loved the characters and how far the cast went to bring them to life. Some of the scenes have light humor which they pull off perfectly but I was really impressed by how great the casting was here. It is a bit of a shame how little Sylvia Kristel was in the film considering how the film is part of her box set from Cult Epics. The story for this one is great. It’s a war time drama with a lot of characters and a story that is easy to follow but worth the pay off. The story could be condensed to fix the lengthy run time due to it’s ridiculous length. However, if it was around an hour and a half it would be more manageable. I love the set up and premise but the pacing and timing is a little off for my tastes.
Finally, don’t expect a bloody film or one with lots of skin. It’s focused on the story which has no room for blood or boobs. Overall, Pastorale 1943 is another odd one that I was sent for review but I fucking loved. I highly recommend this one especially if you are looking for something outside of horror. It’s a lot of fun.
Playing with Fire
Director – Alain Robbe-Grillet (The Blue Villa, The Man Who Lies)
Starring – Jean-Louis Trintignant (Stranger Than Fiction, Dead Certain), Philippe Noiret (Step by Step, Dead Tired), and Anicee Alvina (The Terrorist, The Forbidden Room)
Release Date- 1975
Rating – 2.5/5
It took me a few days but here I am. I’m finally on the last film in the Sylvia Kristel 1970’s Collection from Cult Epics. This release featured four films from the 70s that supposedly starred Emmanuelle actress Sylvia Kristel. Two of the films so far featured her in a small capacity but it was still awesome to experience these films. However, as I finish up my marathon I find myself hitting play on a movie that I honestly had no interest in watching. I was hoping that 1975’s Playing with Fire would be like Pastorale 1943 and catch me by surprise.
**Spoiler Alert** The film follows a wealthy man who finds his adult daughter the target of a kidnapping ring. They take her back to a mansion where they drug and pimp the women out unless he can pay the ransom in a timely manner before they charge him interest. **Spoiler Alert**
Honestly, Playing with Fire wasn’t a bad film but it was difficult to follow and the editing was very chaotic. However, I still found myself enjoying it but I don’t want to subject myself to this messy film any time soon.
The acting in this one is fairly well done. The characters are painfully generic but the cast goes all in to their roll. I enjoyed most of the scenes and loved watching the cast in this odd and intense situations. It would have been far more enjoyable if some of the characters had more memorable personalities but I still liked the acting as it was.
The story for this one is all over the place but the basic premise is short and simple. Honestly, I fucking loved the idea behind the film but it’s hard not to think about how awesome this one would have been if it was a straight forward sexploitation film. The writing and editing could be a lot better and coherent. Instead, the movie is difficult to follow and at almost two hours long it could use a trim.
Finally, the film has some nudity but don’t expect a bloody film. It’s not as sleazy as I would have liked but it’s not a bad watch either. Overall, Playing with Fire is the weakest film in the set but it’s still fun for the most part. It is a difficult watch at times but if you stick with it you will find some fun. Check it out.
Special Features:
New 2K HD Transfers (from original 35mm film elements) and Restoration
Audio Commentaries by Tim Lucas, Jeremy Richey, and Peter W. Verstraten
New and Vintage Interviews with Cast & Crew
Poster & Photo Galleries
Original Theatrical Trailers
Limited Edition of 2500 copies includes 40-Page illustrated booklet written by Jeremy Richey and 16”X20” Poster with Art by Gilles Vranckx
Bonus DVD
